St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church Newsletter — May 2022

Saint CATHOLIC CHURCH

Contents: 2 The Bible

The Textbook of Stewardship

3 A Letter From Our Pastor

4 Moms INC:

Bringing Mothers Together in Faith and Fellowship

6 The Rosary:

Our Lady’s Lasso

7 Welcoming New Catholics into Our Parish Family with the Love of Christ

Parish Youth Receive the Sacrament of Confirmation Sealed With the Gift of the Holy Spirit

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e sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit” — these are the words the celebrant says at Confirmation while signing the confirmand’s head with chrism, an oil also used at Baptism. This is one of three Sacraments of Initiation — as the Catechism of the Catholic Church tells us Baptism, Confirmation and the Eucharist “lay the foundations of every Christian life” (1212).

This year, 19 of our parish’s 11th-graders received the Sacrament of Confirmation on April 26. Without a doubt, this is always a very special Mass here at St. Francis Xavier.

The newly confirmed spent this past school year in Sunday classroom sessions preparing for the sacrament. They each chose a sponsor who is a continued on page 5

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THE BIBLE

The Textbook of Stewardship

H

ave you ever wished that life came with an instruction manual? What a valuable resource that would be! Whenever you find yourself running in circles, this instruction manual would give you step-by-step instructions on how to fix the problem and reroute your course.

Well, here’s some good news. For those living a Christian life, there is such a manual — the Bible.

Sometimes referred to as the “textbook of stewardship,” the Bible is a bountiful resource for the present-day Christian. Written by anointed prophets and sages, this collection of divinely inspired parables, poems and letters is full of testimonials that express the blessings that come from true discipleship, conveyed through lives of stewardship.

Stewardship is not a new concept. The Bible gives proof to this claim through passages such as the 26th chapter of the Book of Deuteronomy. We read Moses’ words, as he tells the Israelites to offer the choicest portions of their harvest to God: “When you have come into the land which the LORD, your God, is giving you as a heritage, and have taken possession and settled in it, you shall take some first fruits of the various products of the soil which you harvest from the land the LORD, your God, is giving you; put them in a basket and go to the place which the LORD, your God, will choose as the dwelling place for his name… ‘Now, therefore, I have brought the first fruits of the products of the soil which you, LORD, have given me.’ You shall set them before the LORD, your God, and you shall bow down before the LORD, your God” (Dt 26:1-2, 10).

St. Paul briefly touches on the essence of stewardship when he said, “In every way I have shown you that by hard work of that sort we must help the weak, and keep in mind the words of the 2

Lord Jesus who himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive’” (Acts 20:35).

Again, in St. Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians, we read about living a life of Christian stewardship: “Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each must do as already determined, without sadness or compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Cor 9:6-7).

While this is well and good, what does it mean for the present-day Christian? Why should it matter that the Bible alludes to stewardship in various passages? It shows us that Christians and Jews have struggled with and benefitted from the concept of stewardship for thousands of years. It ties the message of stewardship to the role of a Christian disciple. It gives proof that stewardship and discipleship go hand-in-hand. It offers encouragement to us, that stewardship is in fact a foundational component of the Christian life, a way of life that one of the founding fathers of the Church — St. Paul — preached about and advocated.

The Bible is indeed the textbook of stewardship. It lays out the steps we must take to become true disciples of Christ. Reading and meditating upon God’s Word is always a fruitful exercise. Those who regularly delve into Scripture often develop a deeper understanding of Who God is, how and why He loves us, and how we can show Him our love in return.

As you strive to become a grateful steward and live the life of Christian discipleship, develop a love for Sacred Scripture. Allow God’s Word to nourish your soul regularly, and watch as stewardship changes from a foreign concept to an integral component of your daily life.

A LETTER FROM OUR PASTOR

Celebrating Mary and All Our Mothers in May Dear Parishioners,

C

ome, Holy Spirit!” is one of my favorite prayers.

Inviting the Holy Spirit into a particular situation or decision is a smart way to pray.

I share this with you because we’ve recently had a beautiful outpouring of the Holy Spirit on several new Catholics and 20-plus teenagers. This outpouring occurred at The Easter Vigil and our recent Confirmation by Bishop Konderla. With the Holy Spirit comes the sevenfold gifts of the spirit. They are wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord. Each is beautiful and necessary in the walk of a Christian. Let us thank the Lord for his goodness in pouring out His Spirit upon these individuals. There are many more awaiting this outpouring, let’s continue to invite, invite, invite!

Speaking of inviting, MOMS INC is a wonderful group for moms in the parish. Being a mom in today’s world can be difficult and so these moms gather regularly to pray for and support each other in this beautiful vocation. They meet IN THE NAME OF CHRIST (INC) and it’s in Christ that motherhood and fatherhood find their meaning.

As St. John Paul II wrote in his Letter to Women, “Thank you, women who are mothers! You have sheltered human beings within yourselves in a unique experience of joy and travail.

This experience makes you become God’s own smile upon the newborn child, the one who guides your child’s first steps, who helps it to grow, and who is the anchor as the child makes its way along the journey of life.”

In May, a month dedicated to a deeper devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, let’s pray for all mothers and all mothers to be. What a beautiful vocation! Have a great month ahead.

In Christ,

Very Rev. Brian O’Brien Pastor, St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church

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MOMS INC:

Bringing Mothers

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others are typically the ones who we go to for comfort, advice, and support.

However, where do they go when they need support and fellowship? Moms INC. Jennifer Ringwald, parishioner, and mother of six, knows firsthand how necessary it is for mothers to have a support system. She is aware of all the demands that mothers are under to meet the needs of their families and how limited a mother’s ability to focus on herself and even her spiritual growth can be. While living in Texas, Jennifer joined a similar ministry to Moms INC and had a transforming experience.

“They showed me love and concern when they didn’t even know me,” Jennifer says. “They brought me back to the Church.”

Inspired by her previous experience, Jennifer knew that she had to start Moms INC at St. Francis Xavier. Since 2018, Jennifer and other moms have met to support one another and grow closer to Christ through faithful fellowship.

Currently, Moms INC meets after the first

9 a.m. Saturday Mass of each month. The meetings usually consist of finding a nice place to relax — like a coffee shop — where the women talk, share experiences and catch up on life.

All mothers all welcome to join the ministry.

“Our mission is to include all moms of all ages,” Jennifer says. “Moms who foster or adopt and grandmothers are all welcome. We want moms in all different stages of life to find support and love. We want each mom to find someone that she can pray with, that she can open up with, and hopefully build her confidence so that she can also take on important roles of service in the parish.”

Moms INC is an amazing outlet for women to support each other. It is a ministry where mothers can be encouraged by each other.

“From my own experience, I can say my prayer life and my relationships have benefitted,” Jennifer says. “More specifically, during one meeting, I opened up about my struggle with postpartum depression and some of the women were very encouraged by that. They then felt like they weren’t alone in their own experiences.”

Members enjoy a Moms INC outing.

The Christ-centered friendships that are created in this ministry last a lifetime

Together in Faith and Fellowship The positive impact of Moms INC is not only felt by the members but goes beyond and trickles into other aspects of family and parish life. Jennifer has noticed that many of the women who attend Moms INC are also involved in many other ministries and find ways to help within the life of the parish.

The Christ-centered friendships created in

this ministry last a lifetime and help the women who make up Moms INC to be more confident in themselves and in the Lord.

“I think this ministry would be a huge blessing to anyone who is in the position that I was once in — only attending Mass sometimes and neglecting to go to confession while raising children in the home,” Jennifer says.

All moms are encouraged to join the sisterhood found in Moms INC. Getting involved is easy — simply contact Jennifer Ringwald by calling or texting her cell phone, 405-476-0564, or by emailing her at jringwa82@gmail.com.

Parish Youth Receive the Sacrament of Confirmation continued from front cover

role model of the Catholic faith.

“They all chose someone that will walk with them on this journey and throughout their lives,” says Ashleigh Martin, who has served as Director of Youth Ministry for six years.

Ashleigh enjoyed opening the teen’s eyes to the richness of the Catholic faith. The teens were challenged to grow in their faith through all the classes. They spent a lot of time learning about the Holy Spirit and the gifts He gives to each of us.

“This is an important topic for them and leads them to use the gifts to go out into the world and evangelize,” Ashleigh says.

The teens also explored Scripture, proof of God’s existence, and the sacraments.

The hope is, of course, that these youth will go forward and evangelize. We pray that

they will be examples in the faith for all those around them. We also pray that they recognize their unique gifts and use them at whichever parish their faith journey takes them to.

“At Confirmation, they were given the tools to help them deepen their faith, making them excited to share it with others,” Ashleigh says.

While Ashleigh is sad that the weekly meetings are now over, she is excited for each teen as they embark on their lifelong faith journey.

“I am so proud of these teens, and I grow to truly love each and every one of them,” Ashleigh says. “I love spending Sunday mornings in class with them growing in faith together.”

Please join us in congratulating our 11thgraders who received this beautiful sacrament last month!

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The Rosary: Our Lady’s Lasso

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here was a priest who once said, “It is no coincidence that rosaries look like lassos, as Our Lady wraps them around lost souls and pulls them out of the depths of hell.”

This thought is comforting but provokes inquiry — what exactly is the Rosary, how does one pray it, and why should one pray it?

Since May is the month of Mary, this is a great time to consider the theology behind this intense spiritual weapon.

There are two putative origins of the Rosary. For many centuries, it was believed that the Blessed Virgin appeared to St. Dominic and exhorted him to encourage the use of the Angelic Salutation — or Hail Mary — for the conversion of souls and comfort of the afflicted. Modern scholarship traces the Rosary back to Irish monasticism of the ninth century. Monks would pray all 150 psalms or “psalters” every day, a form of prayer too complicated for uneducated laypeople without access to copies of Scripture. So, many began reciting the Lord’s Prayer or the Angelic Salutation in response to each psalm, keeping count with pebbles or a knotted rope.

Through many centuries, the Rosary evolved into three sets of five mysteries, each mystery consisting of 10 Angelic Salutations and one Lord’s Prayer recited while meditating upon the life, death or glory of Jesus Christ.

In The Secret of the Rosary, St. Louis de Montfort expounds the dynamics of the Rosary.

The prayer consists of both vocal or exterior prayer, and meditative or interior prayer. The first vocal component of the Rosary, the Creed, is important because faith is “the foundation of all Christian virtues, of all eternal virtues, and also of all prayers that are pleasing to Almighty God.” 6

The Lord’s Prayer is the “perfect prayer” to the God of heaven because it was authored by Christ, is free of all human limitations, and “contains all the duties we owe to God, the acts of all the virtues and the petitions for all our spiritual and corporal needs.” The Hail Mary blesses the name of Mary and her Divine Son and implores her powerful intercession as mediatrix of graces.

But the Rosary is not simply a physical incantation. Vocal prayer is accompanied by contemplation of the mysteries of Christ’s life and the virtues of the Virgin Mary. It is by lifting the incorporeal soul in prayer that one quiets the passions, tastes the peace of Christ, marvels at His loving plans and promises, and grows in the desire to emulate Him and His sinless mother. Because the soul animates the body, a strengthened soul means nobility of action and a will that is commensurate with the will of God. As St. Louis de Montfort says, “The Rosary is a blessed blending of mental and vocal prayer by which we honor and learn to imitate the mysteries and the virtues of the life, death, passion and glory of Jesus and Mary.” The Rosary’s emphasis on both vocal and meditative prayer caters to man’s nature as an embodied soul — one’s entire being, both physical and spiritual, cries out to God in praise, repentance, thanksgiving and supplication.

Thus, it is no surprise that the magisterium and countless saints have encouraged devotion to the Rosary. Pope St. John Paul II said of the prayer, “The Rosary is my favorite prayer, marvelous in its simplicity and its depth.” The late pontiff also added five more “luminous” mysteries to the Rosary to help the faithful meditate upon significant moments in Christ’s earthly ministry.

Welcoming New Catholics Into Our Parish Family with the Love of Christ

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t St. Francis Xavier, the passion for bringing souls to the Heart of Christ runs deep in every ministry and outreach at our parish, especially the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA) process.

“What I enjoy most about working with the RCIA process is being able to speak with people who are captivated by the beauty of the Church and want to learn more about it,” says Associate Pastor Fr. Robert Duck, who coordinates the RCIA process at our parish. “Fr. O’Brien and I both have such a passion for evangelization. This is the reason for being priests — so we can make disciples of Our Lord Jesus Christ! Even if I can’t physically be at each RCIA class, I still want to be as present as I can to those who are going through the process.

I want to be there to answer their personal questions, and be as helpful as I can.”

Through this beautiful rite, participants from all walks of life and stages of spiritual growth have the opportunity to prepare to be embraced by Mother Church forever.

Currently, the Director of Evangelization and Formation Jessica Petter helps out with RCIA and plans to formally lead it in the near

future.

This year’s RCIA group had 16 members, including three catechumens and several candidates and Catholics who were awaiting Confirmation or other Sacraments of Initiation. They were all fully initiated this spring. Most of the sessions were taught by Fr. O’Brien and Fr. Duck, with Jessica and a couple of other teachers teaching the rest of them.

“This year’s group was really nice,” Fr. Duck says.

“What was unique about the process this year is that Jessica opened the first session with an ice breaker to help people get to know one another. It really helped with the classroom dynamics, and people seemed more open to asking questions than usual.”

The enlightening sessions covered topics such as Catholic morality; the corporal and spiritual works of mercy; God’s plan for sexuality; Sacred Scripture and Tradition; the Four Last Things; traditions of prayer and spirituality in the Church; the Blessed Mother and the saints, and our relationship to them as children of God. The process also included the Rite of Acceptance, the Rite of Sending, the Rite of Election, and the Scrutinies.

These rites are offered to RCIA members continued on back cover

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St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church 711 N. Country Club Rd • Stillwater, OK 74075 Web: www.SFXStillwater.org Phone: (405) 372-6886

Welcoming New Catholics into Our Parish Family continued from page 7 according to how many Sacraments of Initiation they have already received (for example, only catechumens receive the Rite of Acceptance).

The RCIA also featured a tour of our parish, a walk-through of the Mass, a retreat in March, and a period named Mystagogia, which wrapped up the process.

“During the Mystagogia, we walked along with the newly confirmed Catholics as they strive to live out their newfound faith,” Fr. Duck says.

“My hope is that those who go through RCIA have a real encounter with Christ or a conversion that leads to their encounter with Christ, through the sacraments. St. John Henry Newman talked about how we are supposed to be leading people, helping them to properly prepare and be open to the grace that God will give them through these beautiful sacraments they are about to receive.”

If you would like more information about how to join the RCIA process, please contact Fr. Robert Duck at frrobert@sfxstillwater.org.

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